Sony Pictures Classics has preemptively acquired all domestic rights to Lawrence Kasdan's Darling Companion from production company Werc Werk Works, it was announced today by Sony Pictures Classics and Werc Werk Works CEO Elizabeth Redleaf.

Darling Companion is written by Meg Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan and directed by Lawrence Kasdan. It stars Kevin Kline, Diane Keaton, Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins, Elisabeth Moss, Mark Duplass, Ayelet Zurer and Sam Shepard. The film is produced by Anthony Bregman for Likely Story, Lawrence Kasdan for Kasdan Pictures and Elizabeth Redleaf for Werc Werk Works. Christine K. Walker, Meg Kasdan and John J. Kelly served as executive producers.

In Darling Companion, Beth (Keaton) saves a bedraggled lost dog from the side of the freeway on a wintry day in Denver. Struggling with her distracted, self-involved husband Joseph (Kline) and an empty nest at home, Beth forms a special bond with the rescued animal. When Joseph loses the dog after a wedding at their vacation home in the Rockies, the distraught Beth enlists the help of the few remaining guests and a mysterious young woman (Zurer) in a frantic search. Each member of the search party is affected by the adventure, which takes them in unexpected directions - comic, harrowing, and sometimes deeply emotional.

Sony Pictures Classics plans a 2012 release for Darling Companion. The deal was negotiated by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) on behalf of Werc Werk Works with Sony Pictures Classics. CAA, which represents Kasdan and Kline, also arranged financing for the film. Sierra / Affinity is handling the licensing of the foreign rights to Darling Companion.

"Over nearly two decades, Sony Pictures Classics have been championing original and creative films with great sensitivity," says Elizabeth Redleaf, CEO of Werc Werk Works. "I can't imagine a better home for the wonderful talents of Lawrence Kasdan and his terrific cast."

"The moment we heard Lawrence Kasdan was making an independent film we wanted to become involved. He and Meg Kasdan have written a seamless screenplay, full of rich characters played by some of America's finest actors. Darling Companion promises to be the kind of warm, engaging movie audiences are clamoring to see right now. Producers Elizabeth Redleaf and Anthony Bregman are exceptional at what they do and we are thrilled to be in business with them and, of course, finally with the estimable Larry Kasdan," states Sony Pictures Classics.

"We're all delighted that Sony Pictures Classics will be distributing Darling Companion in the U.S.," says Kasdan. "Michael and Tom have consistently demonstrated an unparalleled feel for reaching the audience for which we made the movie."

Adds Anthony Bregman, "Darling Companion is a movie about finding and sticking with the right partners, and we've found ours with SPC. They get this movie and they know this audience like no one else."